[3] Along with the 101st and 102nd Brigades, the Tyneside Irish made up the 34th Division which arrived in France in January 1916 and first saw action in the Battle of the Somme that year.

[4] Advancing at the same time as the main attack, the brigade started from the reserve trenches on the Tara-Usna Line.

The four battalions, marching in extended line (from left to right; the 2nd, 3rd, 1st and 4th), advanced down into Avoca Valley and then up the other side to the British front-line trench.

However, the main attack was an almost complete failure and the Tyneside Irish were utterly exposed to the machine guns of the German defences.

Opposite La Boisselle the brigade was halted but on the right, elements of the 1st and 4th battalions were able to advance up 'Sausage Valley' and pass through the German front-line.